'It's called knowing the rules': NBA veteran's savvy play leads to technical foul and eventual win
With 1.1 seconds left on the clock in the Oklahoma City Thunder's home clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it appeared the Thunder were headed for a loss, until Chris Paul intervened.
With the Wolves holding a slender 120-119 lead, Karl Anthony-Towns had a pair of free-throws to put his side up by three points, making the timeout-less Thunder's chances of forcing the game to overtime improbable.
However, Paul a 15-year veteran who is renowned for being one of the most savvy players in the game, noticed Minnesota youngster Jordan Bell entering the game with his jersey untucked, which by the official rules is a delay of game violation, and notified referee Scott Foster.
As Bell entered the game, Paul could be heard in the background of the telecast yelling, "He's got his jersey untucked! His got his jersey untucked! That's a delay of game!"
Despite the violation being the highlight, Paul turned in a vintage performance with 30 points and seven assists Getty
With the violation being Minnesota's second of the game, it constituted an automatic technical foul, allowing the Thunder to tie the game to force overtime on a crazy last-second play, even with Towns draining the foul shots.
After pushing the game to the extra period, Oklahoma City dominated in overtime, outscoring the wolves 17-5 to run out 139-127 winners.
Following the play, which resulted in fans on social media calling Paul a "snitch", he defended himself, saying that it was the players' duty to know the rules.
"That happens more often not. Sometimes refs just be like whatever, but that is the rule.
The moment where Paul pointed out Bell's untucked jersey to the refs with Towns at the free throw line Twitter
"You know what I mean? If you check in without your jersey tucked in it's a delay of game. Call it what you want to."
When asked whether he knew Minnesota had been called for a previous delay of game, Paul admitted he did, but he said he didn't expect to see an opportunity for a second delay of game violation to be called.
"I just noticed it," he said.
"We do play a game and it is what it is. Some nights you have officials who will be like, 'Oh just tuck it in'."
